.jpg?w=1)
Lot Essay
THE IMAGINARY REPRESENTATION OF THE SECRET WORLD OF THE HAREM - IMAGINARY BECAUSE FOR WESTERN MALES ENTRY INTO THE HAREM WAS FORBIDDEN - WAS AMONG ERNST'S FAVOURITE ORIENTALIST THEMES. THE ARTIST DISPLAYED HIS BEST TECHNICAL SKILLS WITH THE AIM OF CAPTURING THE SENSE OF LASCIVIOUS ABANDON OF HIS SENSUOUS ODALISQUES.
ERNST'S EXTRAVAGANT, EXTREMELY ORIGINAL AND ECLECTIC APPROACH TO THE DEPICTION OF EASTERN SETTINGS IS DISPLAYED IN THE PRESENT PAINTING. THE TWO WOMEN ARE LYING ON A SOFA COVERED BY A TURKISH CARPET, AGAINST A WALL DECORATED WITH TILES AND AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIFORA IN VERRE CLOISONNé. AS IN SMOKING THE HOOKAH (LOT 22), THE ARTIST NOT ONLY MANIFESTS A CLEAR MASTERY OF HIS DIFFERENT SOURCES AND ICONOGRAPHIES, BUT IS ALSO DEEPLY AWARE OF THE SUBTLE GAME OF STYLISTIC CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE BLURRED, ALMOST IMPRESSIONISTIC RENDITION OF THE FLOWERS IN THE VASE, AND THE NEAT DUCTUS OF THE WINDOW IN THE BACKGROUND.
ERNST'S EXTRAVAGANT, EXTREMELY ORIGINAL AND ECLECTIC APPROACH TO THE DEPICTION OF EASTERN SETTINGS IS DISPLAYED IN THE PRESENT PAINTING. THE TWO WOMEN ARE LYING ON A SOFA COVERED BY A TURKISH CARPET, AGAINST A WALL DECORATED WITH TILES AND AN EXTRAORDINARY TRIFORA IN VERRE CLOISONNé. AS IN SMOKING THE HOOKAH (LOT 22), THE ARTIST NOT ONLY MANIFESTS A CLEAR MASTERY OF HIS DIFFERENT SOURCES AND ICONOGRAPHIES, BUT IS ALSO DEEPLY AWARE OF THE SUBTLE GAME OF STYLISTIC CONTRASTS BETWEEN THE BLURRED, ALMOST IMPRESSIONISTIC RENDITION OF THE FLOWERS IN THE VASE, AND THE NEAT DUCTUS OF THE WINDOW IN THE BACKGROUND.